She traveled, an angel of mercy, throughout northern New Hampshire, braving all kinds of dangers to relieve suffering…

This is not a portrait of Granny Stalbird, it is only a representation of her.

and was welcomed everywhere as “Granny Stalbird.”

Deborah Vicker was born 21 May 1755 in New Hampshire, probably the daughter of John Vicker(y) of Somersworth, New Hampshire, in the vicinity of Portsmouth. It is known that she had a sister, Elizabeth Vickery who married Aaron Wentworth.

She was the second woman to settle in what is now Jefferson, Coos County, New Hampshire. She arrived to cook and keep house for Col. Joseph Whipple, who owned most of the township. Col. Whipple’s former housekeeper, Nancy, had frozen to death. Deborah brought with her the first Bible in town, for which she had paid ten weeks work. The Bible was printed in Oxford in 1769.

Reportedly she lived in Jefferson eighteen months before she saw another white woman. Described as a very plain woman, her “strong mind, energetic will, and remarkable physical endurance” gave her immense influence among the Native Americans and settlers of the territory. Tradition says she made the first maple sugar of the settlement.

Colonel Whipple reportedly paid her a year’s salary in depreciated Continental currency which he knew to be nearly valueless. She criticized him, in such a strong manner that he offered her any unsold fifty acres in the town, in addition to what she had been paid.” This must have occurred around or after 1777.

Deborah chose the lower half of lot No. 10, range 6. In the deed made by Col. Whipple, December 10, 1797, the consideration is given as “one dollar duly and truly in hand paid before the delivery hereof, and the love I bear to the said Deborah Vicker.”

Most of the stories state that she married Richard Stalbird after receiving the above mentioned land, however, two of their five children were born before 1797 (in 1782 and 1788), so her marriage to Richard Stalbird probably occurred before the land transaction. The tales say that Mr. Stalbird thought this land too rocky, and exchanged it with Col. Whipple for the upper half of the lot. Here Mr. and Mrs. Stalbird settled and made their life residence.

After settling down to married life, Deborah added to her natural skill in nursing a knowledge of local Native American remedies. She traveled by horseback, and on foot, on a regular circuit extending from the Connecticut River to Gilead. J.H. Spaulding in “Historic Relics of the White Mountains,” calls her a “noted doctress.” She had a sympathetic nature and a hand to help in time of need. She greatly endeared herself to all who required her aid.

A story is told about her traveling to Shelburne to visit someone ailing, when she was caught in a ferocious storm. She took shelter under a granite ledge near the road until the next day. That rock became a landmark, called “Granny Stalbird’s Rock.” In later years when the railroad was being built, most of this rock was broken up. A piece was saved and made into a bench, which was sitting behind the house in ‘White Mountain Stock Farm’ of Shelburne NH.

The Stalbird family lived at the property currently known as Applebrook Bed & Breakfast in Jefferson, New Hampshire, for at least 4 generations.

‘Granny Stalbird’ was an amazing lady. She deserves the title ‘Doctor’ as much as any of the physicians in colonial America. During this period of our history, most physicians did not attend school, and instead apprenticed with a working doctor. The use of bleeding was a common practice. Medical treatment of the time was barbaric by our current standards, and Deborah appears to have been very successful in healing the residents of New Hampshire’s north country with her remedies, whether conventional or not. Within the context and definition of the term then used, Deborah Stalbird may be considered New Hampshire first (widely known) woman doctor.

Janice

Addendum June 5, 2006–Tom McCorkhill, the owner of Applebrook B&B contacted me by email, and states that Granny Stalbird’s bible can be found in the Jefferson Town Library.

He also says that there used to be a woman in town who knew much Granny lore and even did programs at the local schools in costume. One 4th of July she wore her costume and rode a white horse even. Unfortunately, now she is very old and in a nursing home.
J

Hi
Would like to correct the line Thomas Applebee married Sarah Stailbird….he married Sally Stailbird first…?They had three children…lived in a house just northwest of the Stailbird house on land known as Applebee five acres.
Today a greenhouse called Stailbird Brook sits on the property. Sarah married a gentleman named Abbott and went to Pittsberg NH. Her husband died early after have several children…..she came back to Jefferson and lived with the Applebees.
My Mom passed away May 2015 and was G Granddaughter of Thomas Applebee b 1796…..
I have his father as Levi Applebee and his Grandfather as Haughley. If anyone has any information differ from this let me know and if you have any photos of the Applebee hous on the five acreas I I would be interested in seeing them.
Thanks….Paul Reitsma

Paul, I am approving your comment to this post, but my records for Sally Stalbird Applebee shows her death certificate as Applebee not Abbott. If you have primary evidence of her 2nd marriage and any children I’ll be happy to alter what I’ve written about the family 🙂
Janice

Correct……Sally married Thomas Applebee, had three children and pass away……Sarah had married Abbott, and he passed away early……so Sarah lived with the Applebees bearing several other children…..I could not find marriage pappers for Thomas and Sarah……

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